President Barack Obama holds a thin 46 - 42 percent lead over former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt
Romney, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll released today. New Jersey Gov.
Christopher Christie, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Wisconsin U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan lead the
guess list for possible Romney running mates.

Looking at personal characteristics, 81 percent of American voters think the president is
likable, compared to 63 percent for Romney. Obama cares about their needs and problems, 57
percent say, compared to 44 percent for Romney. The Republican has strong leadership
qualities, 61 percent say, compared to 60 percent for the president, the independent Quinnipiac
(KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll of 2,577 American voters finds.

Romney is seen as better on the economy 47 - 43 percent, better on creating jobs 45 - 42
percent, better on gas prices 44 - 31 percent and better on immigration 43 - 39 percent. The
president is viewed 52 - 32 percent as better on women's issues and 46 - 40 percent on foreign
policy. The two men are seen equally on taxes and health care.

"The presidential race remains tight. With Gov. Mitt Romney now the de facto Republican
nominee, a look at how the two men are perceived by the electorate reflects much of the historic
differences between the two parties in close elections, which this seems likely to be," said Peter
A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"President Barack Obama has a big lead among women and is seen as the candidate most
in tune with their needs. He is seen as more in touch with average Americans. Republican
Romney seems to hold an edge on the economy - the top issue of the campaign - and holds his
own against the incumbent on being a strong leader. His opening is that by 56 - 38 percent
voters disapprove of the president's handling of the economy."

"The gender gap remains, with Obama leading among women 49 - 39 percent and
trailing slightly among men 46 - 43 percent," said Brown. "The racial gap is even wider:
Romney leads 52 - 36 percent among whites, while the president is ahead among blacks 94 - 3
percent and among Hispanics 64 - 24 percent."

Obama gets split 47 - 48 percent overall job approval and American voters say 49 - 46
percent that he does not deserve a second term in the Oval Office.

Asked about potential Romney running mates, Christie, by far the best known of the
potential picks, runs best with 31 percent calling him a good choice compared to 18 percent
saying he would be a bad choice and 49 percent with no opinion yet. Independent voters, the key
voting bloc, see Christie as a good choice 33 - 18 percent.

For other possible running mates, the "no opinion" count is 64 percent or higher.

"Even Gov. Christopher Christie evokes a 'no opinion' from half the electorate, with
Ryan and Rubio even more so. Other potential running mates who did not rate as highly as the
three leaders are quite unknown. At this point Christie, who recently said he would not rule out
running with Romney, has an edge with the public, but the vice presidency goes to the winner of
an election with one voter - Mitt Romney," said Brown.

From April 11 - 17, Quinnipiac University surveyed 2,577 registered voters with a
margin of error of +/- 1.9 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia
and the nation as a public service and for research.
For more data or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or
follow us on Twitter.

1. If the election for the U.S. House of Representatives were being held today, would you vote for the Republican candidate or for the Democratic candidate in your district?

TREND: If the election for the U.S. House of Representatives were being held today, would you vote for the Republican candidate or for the Democratic candidate in your district? (2011 wording referenced "2012 election")

TREND: If the election for President were being held today, and the candidates were Barack Obama the Democrat and Mitt Romney the Republican, for whom would you vote? (2011 wording referenced "2012 election" / *High also 47% Jun 2011, Jul 2011)

3. Compared to past presidential elections, how would you describe your level of enthusiasm about voting in this year's presidential election; are you more enthusiastic than usual, less enthusiastic, or about the same as usual?

TREND: Compared to past presidential elections, how would you describe your level of enthusiasm about voting in this year's presidential election; are you more enthusiastic than usual, less enthusiastic, or about the same as usual? (2011 wording referenced "2012 election")

8. Suppose Mitt Romney selects - Ohio Senator Rob Portman as his vice presidential running mate. Do you think that would be a good choice or a bad choice, or is that something you don't have an opinion on?

9. Suppose Mitt Romney selects - Florida Senator Marco Rubio as his vice presidential running mate. Do you think that would be a good choice or a bad choice, or is that something you don't have an opinion on?

10. Suppose Mitt Romney selects - New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez as his vice presidential running mate. Do you think that would be a good choice or a bad choice, or is that something you don't have an opinion on?

11. Suppose Mitt Romney selects - Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan as his vice presidential running mate. Do you think that would be a good choice or a bad choice, or is that something you don't have an opinion on?

12. Suppose Mitt Romney selects - Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal as his vice presidential running mate. Do you think that would be a good choice or a bad choice, or is that something you don't have an opinion on?

13. Suppose Mitt Romney selects - Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell as his vice presidential running mate. Do you think that would be a good choice or a bad choice, or is that something you don't have an opinion on?

14. Suppose Mitt Romney selects - New Jersey Governor Chris Christie as his vice presidential running mate. Do you think that would be a good choice or a bad choice, or is that something you don't have an opinion on?